British Columbia ends mask mandate in healthcare facilities and proof of vaccination for long-term care visitors

British Columbia is ending its universal mask mandate in health care settings, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday.

Masks will still be required in some high-risk areas and for patients with symptoms of COVID-19 seeking health care, Henry de Victoria said.

The vaccination mandate for healthcare workers remains in effect.

“We are now at a point where we can change some of the restrictions in health care settings,” Henry de Victoria said. “Masking remains a very important tool in healthcare, and healthcare workers will always wear masks based on their risk assessments.

Visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities will also no longer need to take a rapid test or present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Transmission of COVID-19 and influenza is declining in all regions of the province, according to sewage testing and surveillance data from the BC Center for Disease Control.

“What we’ve seen is stabilization and a decrease in hospitalizations,” Henry said. “It’s in a place where it’s manageable, and it doesn’t overwhelm the health care system.”

Daily new hospitalizations due to COVID-19 fell from around 40 in early January to around 25 in mid-March, the data showed.

However, the BC Center for Disease Control says the number of people in intensive care with COVID-19 is on a slight upward trend, from 14 people on March 14 to 19 last week, to 21 last weekly report released Thursday.

WATCH | Dr. Bonnie Henry describes the changes to public health measures:

British Columbia lifts mandatory mask-wearing in health care and proof of vaccination for long-term care visitors

British Columbia is ending its universal mask mandate in health care settings, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced Thursday. Visitors to long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities will also no longer need to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

The unprecedented flu season that hit early and hammered children, in particular, has eased, as in previous seasons, but other viruses are still circulating and causing coughs and colds in children and the elderly .

Starting Thursday, the BCCDC’s weekly respiratory disease situation reports will change to bi-weekly, and B.C. will not update the COVID-19 dashboard after April 20.

About 40% of people who die within 30 days of a positive COVID-19 test have their underlying cause of death identified as COVID-19, Henry said.

The number of people dying from COVID-19, directly or indirectly, has also decreased to about five a day. Older people, especially those over 80, are most likely to be hospitalized or die.

“All of this together tells us that we have pretty robust immunity in our community,” Henry said. “And that’s been confirmed by what we’re also seeing in hospitalizations and infections.”

The vaccine is the “best protection”

Data show that vaccination, combined with previous infection in some cases, provides strong protection against hospitalization and death.

Since September 2022, unvaccinated people have been hospitalized at a rate of about 225 people per 100,000, while the rate is about 90 per 100,000 for people who have received four doses of vaccine.

Unvaccinated people are also three times more likely to be admitted to intensive care and more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than people who receive four doses.

“The best protection you can have continues to come from vaccination,” Henry said.

Spring reminders will begin rolling out this week for seniors over 80, Indigenous people over 70, and anyone 18 and older who is at high risk of serious consequences.

Adults over 60 and Indigenous people over 50 who have not yet been infected are also eligible for a spring booster.

Henry said it’s likely all adults will be eligible for another booster shot before the next respiratory season in the fall.